The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Ronald was visibly puzzled as he furrowed his brow and asked, “What do you mean?”

Only Scott, within the entire Brooks family, was privy to his and Lauren’s affair. It wasn’t surprising that Vivienne knew; her sharp intellect made it easy for her to uncover secrets.

But what baffled him were the words that Vivienne had just uttered.

Even if Vivienne could dig up dirt on him and Lauren, she couldn’t possibly understand what kind of person Lauren was. After all, Lauren had passed away years ago. How could Vivienne know what Lauren was like?

Vivienne, hands tucked into the pockets of her jeans, remained cool and aloof. “Did you love her so deeply without knowing that she was a member of an elite special unit?”

“What?” Ronald’s face was a mask of disbelief.

“Lauren joined the unit at sixteen. She completed her education with them, becoming the youngest and most formidable operative they had. At twenty, the unit discovered that GTO was trafficking humans. Since GTO was a major organization, to prevent their operatives from escaping, they sent her undercover.

To infiltrate the GTO effectively, she needed two years at home to shed any trace of being a commando. And since she’d been fond of you since childhood, and you’d never forgotten her, she comfortably spent those two years in a relationship with you.”

Ronald felt like his world was unraveling. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. He looked up at Vivienne, his face a picture of utter confusion.

“Discovering that Scott was Mr. B was an accident. When she found out, she reported it to her command immediately. Scott was on her tail, and her unit took the opportunity to have her penetrate the GTO!”

Scott, bewildered, looked at her, “How do you know all this?”

She didn’t even know Lauren. And even if she had the means to find out about her, how could she so easily uncover a commando, especially an undercover one?

Vivienne massaged her temples, giving him a look that screamed ‘idiot’. “I don’t personally know her, yet I know so much. Guess why?”

Ronald’s mind raced, considering every possibility.

But after dismissing several theories, he suddenly looked up at Vivienne and stood up excitedly. “You knew her!”

Vivienne’s lips curled into a half-smile. “Not too dumb, after all.”

Ronald was speechless, complaining inside, “Just a moment ago, you were praising my intelligence!”

Did

arm, his voice trembling,

Was she really dead?

had been upon learning of Lauren’s death. If not for his drive for revenge, he might have joined her

and well,” Vivienne stated. “Her mission is complete, and she’s due to be discharged

you’ve been leaving? F-Poison spotted them ages ago. By the time

project to keep an eye on

the signs Ronald left that they concluded he wasn’t a traitor. He was out

be foolproof, but those signs allowed F-Poison to slip away

just naive or

loss for words. He had left those signs to help himself track the enemy, not to hinder Vivienne and

a poisonous rat to catch. I came here today to get you to stop your idiotic antics. Don’t

of the Brooks family would earn their trust. The ones who truly care

hung his head.

owe me no apology,” she said, turning to

the door, Ronald had a revelation. “The one I’ve been dealing with isn’t F-Poison! She

then added,

frustration. “I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like F-Poison

the bridge of her

dealing with is F-Poison’s girlfriend, Samantha, and now she’s also F-Poison’s decoy,” Vivienne said with a deep look at him.

was rendered

Please, no more insults!

her reveal F-Poison’s whereabouts,” said Ronald. “I’ve been in contact with her for a long time. She’s elusive. She seems to love F-Poison, yet

real F-Poison will never

left without another

…

of Veridia

command center, a man approaching fifty stood with his hands behind